Justice News

Farmer Branch Man Sentenced to Serve a Total of 128 Months in Federal Prison on Drug Charges

DALLAS — Jose Humberto Solis, 39, of Farmers Branch, Texas, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to serve a total of 128 months in federal prison following his guilty pleas in January 2016 and September 2017 to drug offenses as charged in two Northern District of Texas cases, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.

In one case, Solis pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance (heroin). He received 128 months on that drug conviction.

In the subsequent case, Solis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance (heroin) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 128 months in federal prison. That sentence will run concurrently to the first sentence imposed.

In the first case, between August 31, 2015 and September 1, 2015, Solis possessed and agreed to sell kilogram quantities of heroin. Specifically, on September 1, 2015, Solis traveled to a Target store located in Farmers Branch, Texas, with the specific intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin. After arriving at the Target, Solis was detained by law enforcement agents and the one kilogram of heroin was seized from his vehicle.

According to the plea agreement factual resume filed in the subsequent case, in 2013, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into heroin sales in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. Solis was identified asfacilitating the distribution of heroin in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans by supplying heroin he obtained in Dallas, Texas.

On December 19, 2014, a Louisiana State Police Trooper observed a white Honda Civic travelling on Interstate 10 in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The Trooper observed the vehicle’s driver swerving in and out of his lane and onto the shoulder of the freeway. The Trooper pulled the vehicle over for illegal use of traffic lanes. Solis was identified as the passenger of the vehicle. The trooper observed both the driver and Solis appearing very nervous. Based on his observations, the Trooper believed that the occupantsmay be engaged in illegal activity. Solis refused to give consent to search and a K-9 unit was requested. The K-9 alerted to narcotics in the passenger compartment. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately one-half kilogram of heroin in a Jack-in-the-Box food bag sitting on the front passenger side floorboard of the vehicle.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert was in charge of the prosecution.